Iron holder for use on ironing boards and the like



April 15, 1969 E. TASHJIAN 5 IRON HOLDER FOR USE ON IRONING BOARDS AND THE LIKE Filed March 28, 1967 Sheet of 2 EDWARD TASHJ/AN INVENm/P A TTORNEKS' E. TASHJIAN April 15, .1969

IRON HOLDER FOR USE ON IRONING BOARDS AND THE LIKE Sheet Filed March 28, 1967 sum-190' TASHJlA/V [NI/EN m/e M 7M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,438,605 IRON HOLDER FOR USE ON IRONING BOARDS AND THE LIKE Edward Tashiian, 319 E. Yosemite, Madera, Calif. 93637 Filed Mar. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 626,543 Int. Cl. D06f 79/02, 71/32; A47b 88/16 U.S. Cl. 248-1171 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An iron holder having a frame mountable on an ironing board or the like including an elongated guide track having telescopically related sections and an iron receiving tray supported on one of the sections for movement between a retracted position with the iron hidden beneath the ironing board and an extended position outwardly spaced therefrom.

Background of the invention Commercial steam presses and ironing boards utilized by the garment cleaning and pressing industry still require that a substantial number of pressing operations be completed with hand irons. A stand or tray is usually rigidly mounted on the press adjacent to the pressing or ironing board for supporting a hand iron in position for use. The iron is maintained in a heated condition and in such location creates a hazard to the operator of the press. The operator is frequently burned by inadvertently contacting the iron and the iron is frequently bumped off the stand with resulting damage to the iron or further injury to the operator. The same problems are encountered with the hand irons employed for domestic use on home ironing boards where the irons are usually rested on the ironing surface of the boards between periods of use. Here, the danger of burns and injuries caused by falling irons is even greater than in the above described commercial use because of the presence of small children, pets, and the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved iron holder for use on commercial and domestic ironing boards and the like.

Another object is to provide such an improved iron holder which substantially precludes accidental removal of the iron from the ironing board.

Another object is to provide an iron holder of the character described which effectively shields the iron from inadvertent contact with the operator and others within the area of the ironing board.

Another object is to provide an improved iron holder which retains the iron in a conveniently accessible position for immediate use.

Another object is to provide an improved iron holder which supports the iron in such shielded position beneath the ironing board and which permits slidable positioning of the iron outwardly from the board during periods of use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will subsequently become more clearly apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective of an iron holder embodying the principles of the present invention shown mounted on a commercial steam press.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged top plan -view of the iron holder shown in an outwardly extended position from the press with the iron indicated in dashed lines.

3,438,605 Patented Apr. 15, 1969 FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the iron holder shown retracted in full line position beneath the press with the extended position of FIG. 2 shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation, as viewed in the direction of the arrows on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section through the iron holder and telescoping mounting tracks therefor.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective of a bearing assembly removed from the tracks.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring more particularly to the drawings, an iron holder embodying the principles of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. As best shown in FIG. 1, the iron holder is associated with a commercial garment finishing press 11 having a pressing board 12 which is referred to in the industry as a buck. A pressing head 14 is mounted on the press for pivotal swinging movement toward and from the buck. A garment draping board 16 is disposed in downwardly spaced substantially parallel relation to the pressing board to support the depending portions of the garments being pressed which provides a convenient mounting for the iron holder of the present invention. It is readily apparent, however, that the iron holder 10 is not restricted to such mounting but may be readily adaptable to any type of steam press or domestic ironing board.

The iron holder 10 provides a support frame generally indicated by the reference numeral 20. The frame has an upper substantially flat mounting plate 22 providing an inner end 23 disposed substantially centrally of the drape board 16 and an outer arcuate end 24 extended beyond the adjacent edge of the board. The mounting plate is rigidly secured in such position by a plurality of bolt and nut assemblies 25 extended through the board and the plate. A pair of inverted substantially Ushaped hanger straps are disposed in spaced depending relation from the inner end 23 of the mounting plate 22. Each of the straps includes opposite depending legs 32 and a continuous intermediate bight portion 34 secured to the mounting plate, as by spot welding or the like. The legs include lower ends 35 which are maintained in predetermined transversely spaced relation by a brace 36 rigidly secured therebetween also by spot welding or the like.

A pair of elongated outer guide rails 40 providing inner and outer ends 42 and 43, respectively, are individually mounted on the lower ends 35 of the hanger straps 30 as by welding or the like in transversely spaced substantially parallel relation to each other and in downwardly spaced substantially parallel relation to the drape board 16. As best shown in FIG. 5, each of the guide rails provides upper and lower channular bearing tracks 45 and 46, respectively. The bearing tracks are arcuate in cross section and are disposed in elevationally spaced substantially parallel facing relation. As best shown in FIG. 3, the bearing tracks provide inwardly bent projections 48 at the outer ends 43 of the guiderails. A stop bar 50 is transversely disposed in interconnecting relation between the lower bearing tracks 46 and is secured thereto, as by welding or the like, in closely spaced relation to the outer ends of the guide rails.

A pair of elongated inner guide rails 53 having inner and outer ends 54 and 55, respectively, are individually disposed in telescoping relation between the outer guide rails 40. Each of the inner guide rails provides upper and lower bearing tracks 56 and 57, respectively, which are arcuate in cross section in corresponding relation to the upper and lower bearing tracks 45 and 46 of the outer guide rails. The outer ends 55 of the inner guide rails are oppositely outwardly turned to provide stop dogs 58. As best shown in FIG. 3, the inner and outer guide rails are disposed in their maximum telescoped position by engagement of the stop dogs 58 with a stop post 59 disposed in substantially upright position through the inner ends 42 of each of the guide rails 40. A roller bearing assembly 60 is mounted in supporting relation within the upper and lower bearing tracks between the inner and outer guide rails. Each of the bearing assemblies includes a plurality of spherical rollers 62 which are disposed in predetermined spaced relation to each other by an elongated undulated bearing cage 63. The bearing assemblies are permitted free longitudinal movement within the bearing tracks between the projections 48 and the stop dogs 58 at the inner and outer ends of the guide rails.

An elongated substantially rectangular iron holding tray 70 is mounted on the outer ends 55 of the inner guide rails 53. The tray may be constructed of a substantially rigid block 72 of lightweight material such as wood or the like providing an upper surface 73 covered with any suitable heat resisting material such as metal asbestos. The tray provides continuous side walls 74 of a similar material which are disposed in circumscribing relation about the block and secured thereto by a plurality of nails or screws 76. The side walls include an upwardly extended flange portion 78 providing a rolled upper edge '79. The flange defines a recess 89 which is adapted to receive a hand iron, as indicated by the dashed lines 82 in FIG. 3. The tray is supported in substantially horizontal position on the inner guide rails 53 by an elongated substantially U-shaped bracket 85. The bracket provides an upper substantially flat plate portion 86 secured to the lower surface of the block 72 of the tray by a plurality of suitable fastener members 87 such as nails, screws, or the like. The bracket further includes continuous, oppositely depending, side legs 88 rigidly individually secured to the inner guide rails 53, as by welding or the like. Obviously, if preferred, the side legs 88 may be welded directly to the tray 7%, as may the side walls 74, and the block 72 omitted for a plate of metal or the like at 73.

As best shown in FIG. 1, a steam generating device 90 is mounted on the outer end 24 of the mounting plate 22 of the support frame and has an elongated steam supply hose 92 extended therefrom for connection to the iron 82. The hose is extended through an upper looped end 93 of a suitable substantially upright support rod 95 which is mounted on the upper surface of the drape board 16 to support the hose in elevationally spaced relation to the pressing board 12 and to preclude entanglement or twisting of the hose.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the tray 70 supports the iron 32 in substantially shielded position beneath the drape board 16 of the press 11. The tray and iron can be easily and conveniently manipulated to the outwardly extended accessible position of FIG. 2 by the imposition of a relatively light pulling force against the iron. During such movement, the inner guide rails 53 are traveled longitudinally outwardly relative to the outer guide rails 4t} by rolling engagement of the bearing rollers 62 within their respective bearing tracks 45, 46, 56, and 57. It is noted that the upper bearing tracks 56 engage and support the lower peripheries of the upper rollers while the lower bearing track 57 is supported on the upper peripheries of the lower rollers. Furthermore, the upper bearing tracks engage the upper peripheries of the upper rollers and the lower bearing tracks 46 engage and support the lower peripheries of the lower rollers. Accordingly, with such dual track and roller engagement, a substantially frictionless connection is atforded to substantially eliminate any sticking or binding of the inner and outer guide rails.

The previously described outward movement of the iron 82 and tray 70 is terminated by engagement of the stop fingers 89 on the bracket with the stop bar 50 between the outer guide rails 40 so as to preclude complete separation of the guide rails. Accordingly, the iron is thereby disposed in a convenient accessible position for use upon the pressing board 12 of the press 11. After use, the iron is returned to the tray and if desired, the tray can be left in its extended position for successive pressing operations with the iron. Alternatively, the iron and tray can be moved to the retracted position of FIG. 3 by only a slight pushing force against either the iron or the tray. During such movement, the inner guide rails 53 are telescoped within the outer guide rails 40 by the previously described substantially frictionless support provided by the roller bearings 62 within their respective bearing tracks. Such movement continues until the stop dogs 58 of the inner ends 54 of the inner guide rails abut the stop posts 59.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure of the present invention provides an improved iron holder which enables hand irons to be dependably supported on commercial and domestic ironing boards between selective storing and accessible positions. It is noted that when the iron holder is retracted, the iron is effectively shielded beneath the ironing board to preclude inadvertent removal of the iron from the ironing board. Furthermore, the iron may be conveniently extended to a position conveniently accessible for successive periods of use.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as neW and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An iron holder for use on ironing boards and the like comprising a frame including downwardly extended bracket means mounted in depending relation from such board, guide means supported by the frame in a vertically spaced relationship with the ironing board having telescopically slidable sections including a stationary track disposed completely beneath said board supported by said frame, a movable track telescopically related to the stationary track extendible endwardly outwardly from the stationary track and from the ironing board, stop means on said tracks for limiting relative movement of the tracks between said retracted and extended positions, and a tray mounted on one of said sections of the guide means adapted to support an iron for movement between a retracted position beneath the ironing board and an extended position outwardly spaced therefrom.

2. The iron holder of claim 1 including bearing means disposed in rolling relation between said tracks.

3. An iron holder for use on ironing boards and the like comprising a frame mounted in depending relation from an ironing board, a pair of elongated stationary guide tracks mounted on the frame in spaced substantially parallel relation beneath the ironing board and individually having opposite upper and lower arcuately channular portions, a pair of movable guide tracks individually telescopically related to said stationary tracks and individually providing opposite upper and lower arcuately channular portions disposed between and in facing relation to the corresponding upper and lower channular portions of the stationary tracks, bearing means disposed between the corresponding upper channular portions and lower channular portions of the tracks, and a tray mounted on said movable tracks and being adapted to support an iron for movement between a retracted position disposing the iron beneath the ironing board and an extended position outwardly spaced from the ironing board.

4. The iron holder of claim 3 including stop means 5 6 on said tracks limiting relative sliding movement of the References Citedl tracks between said retracted and extended positions. UNITED STATES PA S 5. The holder Of claim 3 wherein Said frame includes Foster X inverted U-shaped members depending in coaxial align- 7 9 7 1 5 Petkwitz ment beneath the ironing board and supporting the sta- 5 2,885,694 5/1959 Ul 5 308 tionary guide track substantially below the board. 3,021,185 2/1962 Kowalczyk 31229 6. The holder of claim 3 wherein the tray is mounted on the pair of movable tracks by means including an in- CHANCELLOR HARRIS Prlmmy Exammfl' verted U-shaped tray mounting member disposed between 10 s CL XR and fixed to the pair of movable tracks. 108-93 

